Mounting mechanism



NOV. 22, 1966 s WATERS 3,287,553

MOUNTING MECHANISM Filed July 30, 1964 FIG-l.

INVENTOR Robert 8 Waters ATTORNEY United States Patent G 3,287,553 MOUNTING MECHANISM Robert S. Waters, Lexington, Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., 21 corporation of Pennsylvania Filed July 30, 1964, Ser. No. 386,231 9 Claims. (Cl. 240-52) This invention relates in general to light bulb sockets and more particularly to mechanism for mounting sockets of this type in confined places.

In most prior art devices, having limited space available for mounting of light bulbs and sockets, replacing an inoperative bulb is a major job involving the removal of several parts of the device, usually requiring the use of tools.

.Accordingly, it is the general object of this invention to provide a new and improved mechanism for mounting a light bulb socket.

It is a more particular object of this invention to provide a new and improved mechanism for mounting light bulb sockets in confined places which facilitates replacement of an inoperative bulb and which requires no tools in making the replacement.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved mechanism for mounting light bulb sockets which is adapted to positively hold the light bulb and socket in a normal operating position and in the bulb replacement position.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved mechanism for mounting light bulb sockets which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

Briefly, the present invention accomplishes the above cited objects by providing a mounting mechanism for a light bulb and socket comprising a cantilever spring having a finger adjacent its free end which is adapted to be inserted in an aperture provided in an L-shaped bracket. The bracket to which is attached a light bulb socket, is adapted to pivot about its point of contact with cantilever spring in such a manner that a bulb, which is mounted in the socket, is pivoted out of a recess provided for its protection, whereby the bulb can be quickly and easily replaced and then returned to its normal operating position within the recess.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out in particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

While the present invention is useful in innumerable situations, one place'where it has proved particularly satisfactory is in upright vacuum cleaners, and consequently will be illustrated and described in connection therewith for disclosure only and not by way of limitation.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view, partly broken away, of a vacuum cleaner incorporating one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the vacuum cleaner illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the mounting mechanism and the light socket pivoted to the bulb replacing position;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line IV IV of FIGURE 2; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line V-V of FIGURE 1.

Refer-ring to the drawings, especially FIGURE 1, reference character designates generally a suction cleaner which, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, has been selected merely for the purpose of illustrating "ice the invention. The cleaner as shown in FIGURE 2 comprises a housing 11 having a recess 12 to accommodate a light bulb 13. Access to the recess or enclosure 12 is obtained through a molded door integral molded hinge arrangement, generally indicated at 9. To connect the bulb to the electrical supply, a socket 14 having current conducting wires 15 connected thereto, is provided, the bulb being mounted therein. The base of the bulb is provided with conventional pins not shown and the socket can be screw type with bayonet slots (not shown) for receiving the pins whereby the bulb can be firmly secured in the socket or quickly removed therefrom. As illustrated (FIGURE 2) the distance between the top of the bulb and the housing is so limited that the bulb could not possibly be moved to the right a sufficient amount to permit rem-oval thereof. This lack of adequate space is inherent in the design of devices of the type herein illustrated as well as many other types of devices.

Accordingly, mechanism generally indicated 16 (FIG- URE l) is provided for mounting the light bulb 13 and the socket 14 within the recess or enclosure 12. The mounting mechanism 16 comprises an L-shaped bracket 17 to which the socket 14 is mounted, a cantilever spring 18 (best shown in FIGURES 2 and 4) operably associated with the bracket 17 and a stepped supporting member or land 19 formed integrally with the cleaner housing as viewed in FIGURE 5.

The spring 18, as best shown in FIGURES 2, 3, and 4, made from any suitable material, for example, metal, consists of a single piece of material provided with a hole (not shown) at one end, through which a screw 21 or the like may be inserted .in order to fasten the spring in place. The spring is bent as indicated at 22 (FIGURE 4) to provide a finger 23, the purpose of which will be discussed below.

The L-shaped bracket 17, made from any suitable material, for example, metal, is provided with an aperture 25 (FIGURE 2) for receiving the finger 23 (FIGURES 1, 2 and 3). The material between the aperture and the adjacent edge of the bracket constitutes a hinge pin. As viewed in FIGURE 2, the spring 18 is provided with a pair of shoulders 26 which are adapted to cooperate with finger 23 to limit the counterclockwise rotation of the bracket to substantially (FIGURE 3). The bracket which rests on the stepped support 19 subadjacent the spring 18 is free to pivot about its point of contact with the spring 18, the bracket being held in its pivoted position (FIGURE 3) due to the stress developed in the spring through its displacement. The spring 18 and support 19 cooperate to define a hinge knuckle for the hinge pin. It will be observed from FIGURE 3 that the surfaces at the points of contact between the spring and bracket and the spring and the support 19 lie substantially parallel to the horizontal which is the result of mounting the spring and bracket in parallel planes one below the other as illustrated (FIGURE 4). It will be understood that the coaction between the bracket and the spring obtained from the over-center position of the bracket (FIG- URE 3) is sufiicient to hold the bracket and socket in the position shown until the bulb is replaced, the finger and shoulders being necessary to maintain substantially the same position only in the event that the bracket is inadvertently rotated counterclockwise past the over-center position. To return the light bulb to the normal operating position (disposed in recess 12) the bracket 17 is rotated in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG- URE 3, slightly past the over-center position at which point the spring due to its restoring force snaps the bulb and socket back to normal operating position.

As viewed in FIGURE 4, the spring 18 is bent as indicated at 24 to provide sufficient clamping action to hold the bracket firmly in the normal operating position thereby providing damping action to protect the bulb against excessive shock and vibration forces.

The stepped support Orland 19, made from any suitable material, for example, metal, may be made as a separate element or it may (as illustrated) be formed integrally with the apparatus housing, the end result being the same.

It will be apparent that there has been disclosed a mounting mechanism for a light bulb and socket which facilitates the replacement of inoperative bulbs which is simple and inexpensive to make, and which utilizes a minimum number of parts.

While there has been shown and described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, modification thereto will readily occur to those skilled in the art. It is not desired, therefore, that the invention be limited to the specific arrangement shown and described and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed:

1. Means mounting a light bulb and socket for movement between a first position in which said bulb and socket are disposed in a confining enclosure where separation of the bulb and socket is difiicult and a second position where said bulb is readily accessible for separation thereof from the socket, said means comprising: a spring having a finger and shoulder portions, a bracket secured to said socket and having an aperture means therein for receiving said finger with means for supporting said spring and said bracket in cooperative relationship with said bracket being adapted to pivot from said first position to said second position, whereby removal of said bulb is unobstructed by the confining enclosure, said finger and said shoulder portions being adapted to cooperate with said bracket to limit pivotal displacement of said bracket to substantially 90.

2. Structure as specified in claim 1, wherein said spring has means for holding said bracket in said first and second positions.

3. Means mounting a light bulb and socket for movement between a first position in which said bulb and socket are disposed in a confining enclosure where separation of the bulb and socket is difficult and a second position where said bulb is readily accessible for separation thereof from the socket, said means comprising: a flexible member, a socket holding member, and means for supporting said members in cooperative relationship, said flexible member being adapted to retain said holding member in the first position within said enclosure, said flexible member being further adapted to temporarily retain said holding member in the second position whereby removal of said bulb is unobstructed by the confining enclosure, one of said members having means for cooperating with the other of said members for limiting movement of said socket holding member to substantially 4. Structure as specified in claim 3, wherein said support means comprises a stepped land, the steps of said land having means for supporting one of said members subadjacent the other whereby the surfaces at the area of contact of said members and the surfaces at the point of contact of one of said members and said land are substantially horizontal when the socket holding member is in the second position.

5. Structure as specified in claim 4, wherein one of said members comprises means for cooperating with the other of said members for limiting movement of said socket holding member to substantially 90.

6. Means mounting a light bulb and socket for movement between a first position in which said bulb and socket are disposed in a confining enclosure where separation of the bulb and socket is difficult and a second position where said bulb is readily accessible for separation thereof from the socket, said means comprising: a bracket carrying the socket and having a solt therethrough near an edge thereof, the material of said bracket between said slot and said edge serving as a hinge pin, a fixed support having a flat surface, and a resilient member biasing said hinge pin against said flat surfaces and cooperating with the latter to define knuckle for said hinge pin.

7. Structure as specified in claim 6, wherein said hinge pin is noncircular in cross section.

8. Means mounting a light bulb and a socket for movement between a first position in which said bulb and socket are disposed in a confining enclosure where separation of the bulb and socket is diflicult and a second position where said bulb is readily accessible for separation thereof from the socket, said means comprising: a bracket carrying the socket and having a slot therethrough near an edge thereof, the material of said bracket between said slot and said edge serving as a hinge pin, a fixed support having a flat surface, and a resilient member having a finger and shoulder portion, said finger being received in said slot whereby said resilient member is effective to bias said hinge pin against said flat surface, said finger cooperating with said hinge pin to define a hinge knuckle for said hinge pin.

9. Structure as specified in claim 8, wherein said hinge pin is noncircular in cross section.

2,101,918 12/1937 Ross 24052 X 2,545,508 3/1951 Allen 24052 X NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

C. R. RHODES, Assistant Examiner. 

3. MEANS MOUNTING A LIGHT BULB AND SOCKET FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION IN WHICH SAID BULB AND SOCKET ARE DISPOSED IN A CONFINING ENCLOSURE WHERE SEPARATING OF THE BULB AND SOCKET IS DIFFICULT AND A SECOND POSITION WHERE SAID BULB IS READILY ACCESSIBLE FOR SEPARATION THEREOF FROM THE SOCKET, SAID MEANS COMPRISING: A FLEXIBLE MEMBER, A SOCKET HOLDING MEMBER, AND MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID MEMBERS IN COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP, SAID FLEXIBLE MEMBER BEING ADAPTED TO RETAIN SAID HOLDING MEMBER IN THE FIRST POSITION WITHIN SAID ENCLOSURE, SAID FLEXIBLE MEMBER BEING FURTHER ADAPTED TO TEMPORARILY RETAIN SAID HOLDING MEMBER IN THE SECOND POSITION WHEREBY REMOVAL OF SAID BULB IS UNOBSTRUCTED BY THE CONFINING ENCLOSURE, ONE OF SAID MEMBERS HAVING MEANS FOR COOPERATING WITH THE OTHER OF SAID MEMBERS FOR LIMITING MOVEMENT OF SAID SOCKET HOLDING MEMBER TO SUBSTANTIALLY 90*. 